This week's warm Washington temperatures had some thinking about rolling the Lawn-Boy out of the garage for the first cut of the year. And we all know what that means: Difficult starts due to E10 gas that gels when it sits. Now, according to a new study, cars and truck may face the same fate thanks to President Obama's demand for a higher ethanol in the new E15 gas.

All my small engines that use the 10% ethenol (all gas) also get the marine Sta-Bil (blue stuff) that has the corrosion additive to offset the effects of the alcohol. Also put in Marvel Mystery oil in the gas to return the lubricating properties of the gas that have been removed by the alcohol.

Why not buy ethanol free unleaded regular to begin with. It’s about the same price as premium or about 30 cents per gallon more. I would still use the red Stabil if you keep the gas for more than 1 month. Stabil makes another product for daily use to counteract the ethanol in gas. It is clear to light yellow in color, but you’re better off getting the ethanol free gas if it’s available in your area.

11
posted on 01/31/2013 6:50:54 AM PST
by derSchurfer
(When the Rule of Law is ignored good citizens will take the law into their own hands.)

Automotive and petroleum engineers have been studying fuel mixtures since the late ‘30s and that incluudes alcohol mixtures and pure alcohol. The behavior of the E15 mixture in engines has certainly been known for a long time.

If E15 is harmful to engines, why have the automotive and petroleum industries (and government?) allowed it to be sold? Could additives such as those mentioned in other posts solve the problem. If so, why doesn’t the E15 we receive already have the additives?

We have no business being sold a product that will damage our engines. Maybe it’s only older engines or “Lawn Boy” engines. There should be warnings at the pumps about those dangers.

Uh... because that would require me to plan ahead? :-)
But seriously, I did buy and use five gallons of av gas from a pilot friend and it worked great. It’s just not as instant-gratification convenient as buying gas anywhere and adding something to it.

>> Stabil makes another product for daily use to counteract the ethanol in gas. It is clear to light yellow in color

OH NO!!! There’s a YELLOW one too? If you mix the blue stuff with the red stuff and add the yellow stuff, do you have WHITE Sta-Bil? j/k thanks for the tip, I’ll look for it.

18
posted on 01/31/2013 7:09:22 AM PST
by Nervous Tick
(Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)

In March 2009, Growth Energy (a coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters) and 54 ethanol manufacturers applied for a waiver to increase the allowable amount of ethanol in gasoline from E10 to E15. The waiver application included data on the impact of E15 on vehicle emissions, fuel system materials, and driveability. Additional data were developed by DOE, which in 2008 began testing for potential impacts of various ethanol-gasoline blends on the emission control systems of MY2007 and newer light-duty motor vehicles. This testing followed enactment of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which calls for significantly increasing the amount of biofuels, such as ethanol, to be used in transportation fuel.

On October 13, 2010, based in large part on DOE test data, EPA partially granted Growth Energy’s waiver request. This partial waiver allows fuel and fuel additive manufacturers to introduce E15 into commerce for use in MY2007 and newer light-duty motor vehicles, subject to certain conditions. EPA denied the waiver for E15 use in MY2000 and older light-duty motor vehicles, and all heavy-duty gasoline engines and vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks), highway and off-highway motorcycles, and nonroad engines, vehicles, and equipment (e.g., boats, snowmobiles, and lawnmowers) due to insufficient test data or other information to support a waiver for these vehicles and engines.

On January 21, 2011, after additional DOE test data were made available to the public (see EPA Docket #EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0211 at www.regulations.gov), EPA took further action on Growth Energys waiver request application by partially approving the waiver to allow the introduction into commerce of E15 for use in MY2001-2006 and newer light-duty motor vehicles, subject to the same conditions that apply to the partial waiver decision for MY2007 and newer light-duty motor vehicles. Taken together, the two waiver decisions allow the introduction into commerce of E15 for use in MY2001 and newer light-duty motor vehicles if the waiver conditions are met.

On February 27, 2012, EPA issued a memorandum (PDF) (6 pp, 2.4MB, February 27, 2012) concerning a minor technical error related to one of the DOE test vehicles from MY2001-2006. The error stemmed from a manufacturer’s mislabeling of the test vehicle model and had no material impact on the January 2011 waiver decision. A fact sheet about the memorandum is available here.

Q: What is the difference between Marine Formula STA-BIIL®, STA-BIL® Fuel Stabilizer, and the new STA-BIL® Ethanol Treatment products?

A: Marine Formula STA-BIL® Ethanol Treatment was designed for use at every fill up for marine engines (boats, jetskis) to protect against the damaging effects experienced when using Ethanol blended fuels — including corrosion caused by water attraction, and fuel system plugging caused by deposit loosening.

STA-BIL® Fuel Stabilizer is designed for use during STORAGE of any gasoline equipment or vehicle stored for 30 days or more, or used infrequently. It will keep gas fresh for 12 months, and help prevent corrosion, and gum and varnish formation.

New STA-BIL® Ethanol Treatment is designed for use at every fill up for all gasoline automotive and small engines for protection against these same problems.

All STA-BIL® brand products are effective in all gasolines, including Ethanol blends, including E-85.

If E15 is harmful to engines, why have the automotive and petroleum industries (and government?) allowed it to be sold? Could additives such as those mentioned in other posts solve the problem. If so, why doesnt the E15 we receive already have the additives?

E10 is the stuff that has become commonplace, this is the proposed new blend that would increase the ethanol content (and the related problems) by 50%.

I can never understand why all the FReepers who complain about expensive problems with their OPE dont do exactly as you say, or head to the local airport for some avgas.

Have you noticed the "canned" fuel mix that is now being sold in the lawn and garden section at the big-box hardware stores? In some places, it's easier to find that on the shelf than gasoline storage cans.

Maybe he’s talking about the “good old days” of diesels when they actually had much higher compression than gassers, could run super lean for economy at part throttle, and could ingest fuel that was considerably cheaper than gas.

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